Beschreibung:

Lunar achondrite (monzogabbro) Rissani, Morocco This is a notable offering of a rare and particularly exotic lunar meteorite—that is to say, a piece of the Moon ejected from the lunar surface following an asteroid impact. The scientific journal of record, the Meteoritical Bulletin, acknowledges less than 100 pounds of lunar meteorites known to exist—a large portion of which is unavailable to the public. NWA 4734 is the 4734th meteorite classified by scientists following its recovery from the North West African (NWA) corridor of the Sahara. Lunar specimens are identified by specific geological, mineralogical, chemical and radiation signatures. The most common minerals found on Earth’s surface are not found on the Moon; the minerals comprising the Moon’s crust are limited and readily identifiable. In addition, lunar rocks contain gases originating from the solar wind with isotope ratios that are very different than the same gases found on Earth. NWA 4734 was purchased from nomads in Erfoud, Morocco by a Moroccan meteorite dealer. The pryoxene and plagioclase-rich khaki matrix is unusually coarse-grained, traits that combine to result in this specimen possessing the exotic monzogabbro subclassification. Dark seams of impact melt are also featured along with a “burnt-sugar,” highly textured fusion crust. Fascinatingly, there are two other lunar meteorites from different localities—one of which was found in the LaPaz Icefield in Antarctica—which are petrographic and geochemical matches with NWA 4734. In effect, NWA 4734 is one of three meteorites that originated from the same crater (and same impact event) on the Moon that separately found their way to Earth. With a Macovich Collection provenance and accompanied by a copy of the description of NWA 4734 in the Meteoritical Bulletin, this is a singular bit of the Moon. Measuring 46 x 29 x 27mm (1.75 x 1 x 1 inches) and 52.57 grams.